For the second time in three months, Lok Sabha voted on Friday against the introduction of a private member’s bill brought by Congress MP Shashi Thraoor to decriminalise homosexuality.

Tharoor’s bill sought to amend the “colonial era” Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) that criminalises homosexuality. In effect, the bill aims to decriminalise sexual intercourse in private between consenting adults, irrespective of their sexuality or gender by restricting the applicability of the section.

As Tharoor sought to introduce the private member’s bill, BJP members negated the motion and sought division of House, which was granted by speaker Sumitra Mahajan. 58 out of 73 members present voted against introduction of the bill, while 14 were in its favour. One member abstained from voting. Read more via Hindustan Times